Improvement in water-meters



citta-ibid tatgggmm @ww MONROE s'rAapnino,Ot1 HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNOaTO PRATT, wn-rrNEY a oO.,.Or SAME PLAGE.v 1

Letters Patent No. 92,222,1lotetl July y6, l1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-METERS.

The Schedulex'eferred to in these Letters Patent and making part cf the same.

the measuri11g-apparatus consists of al cylinder, con-l taining a piston, which is moved bythe water to be measured, aml sweeps leach time through a known- Y volnme; the mnnber of strokes made by the piston indicating the quantity of water delivered, which is recorded by a register.

Heretoi'ore meters of the kind described have had objectionable features; Sonie kinds are of complicated constyuction; others fail to giveaccurate indications, because of a lack of deliniteness in the movements of thepiston or ofthe registering-apparatus. And in all those with which I am acquainted, the arrangement of the parts is such as to render it necessary either to disconnect theinlet or outlet-pipes, or else to take oli' more than one l cover, in order to get easily at all lthe working-parts.

1t is the object of my invention to remedy the defects above alluded to.

'L o this end my said invention consists- First, in enclosing within a case to which the water to be measured is admitted, a principal measuringcylinder-and piston, and a secondary cylinder and piston of smalle-r size, which is combined with the main valve, and voperates the same, as hereinafter described.

'Y Secondly, in attachingr the working-parts of the meter to a base-plate or channel-plate, in which are 'ibrmed'ducts orpassages 'for the introduction into the i its delivery\fto the outlet; and in combining with the staid channel-plate a box-like cover which contains the working-parts, but is detachable thereli'om, and may be removed without displacing them, and without distulrbing'the inlet or outlet-pipe;

k'lhirdly, in making the heads o1" the main measuring-cylinder cap-thinned, and in leading the water to the `cylinder through peribrations in the wall of the said tg-ap, so that the cylinder may" be otl simple form and easily iitted up. v

Fourthly, in securingr the cap-formed heads of Athe cylindeitto the channel-plate by bolts, when the said heads arettbrced against the' cylinder by set-screws, as hereinafter described,so as to effect water-tight connection of the heads with bot-h the channel-plate aml the cylinder.

Fifthly, in moving the secondary valve at each end of the main pistons stroke, by means of separate driving-levers, located, one at each'end of the main cylinder, ami arranged substantiallyfas hereinafter clearly explained, thus avoiding complicated connections within the cylinder.

' Sixthly, in thev peculiar arrangement, hereinafteny described, for making a water-tight joint at the place where the axis ofthe valve-driving levers enters the main cylinder-beauls. Y I

Seventhly, in so arranging they parts by which the register-pawl is moved, that ythe said4 pawl shall he caused to move the register the proper distanceby that part ofthe movement of the secondary valve which is necessary to overcome the lap of tbe said valve, for the purpose hereinafterexplained.

Eight-lily, in providing for moving the register-pawl through a frictional coupling, oran equivalent therefor, and in limiting the movement of the pawl by posi-` tive stops, whereby excessive movement of the mechanism which operatesthe pawl, is preventedti'om producing too greatindicatiou by the register.

lo enable others skilled iu the arts to make and use my invention, I will proceed to a description thereof. In the accompanying drawings, similar characters of reference denote the same part in4 the several ligures.

Figure 1, sheet 1is a longitudinal section of the meter at the axisof the main measuring-cylinder; Figure 2 is a plan ofthe meter with the registercase removed.

Figure 3, sheet 2, isa sectional isometric projection ofthe principal working-pants of the meter, with the box-like cover removed.

its substance the inlet-passage B, into'which the sup.-V

ply-pipe is screwed; also theoutlet-passage C, which receives the delivery-pipe, and sundry other passages or channels hereinafter described. This plate is surmounted by a case or cover, D, in the form of a box with an open bottom', the edges of which match the outline ofthe plate, and form 'a water-tight joint with the top surface of the said plate to which the cover is secured by bolts d. The box D covers and contains all the working-parts, and first receivesV all the water to be measured, which passes into it by the inlet-duct B, (shown in tigs. 5 and 7.)

E is the 'principal measuring-cylinder. Itis formedof a straight tube of brass, the ends of which t into recesses formed in the heads and E2, which consist `of short caps, nearly cylindrical in form, but made fiat' on the bottom, and furnished with ears, e, through which they maybe fastened in a vertical position, by bolts f, to the channel-plate. These heads or caps are `tin-ced against the ends of the cylinder E by setscrews g' and g2, which are screwed through two strong standards h' and h2, cast in one piece with the channelplate. The points of the screws bear against the oentres of the caps. l

A light piston, F, having centrally-projectin g prongs, f' and ft, slides ti'eely in the cylinder E.

Through the bottom of the rear cylinder-head E' is an opening, G', which matches the mouthof aduc-t or passage, H', formed wit-hin the substance ofthe channelplate, and leading diagonally to a raised valve-seat, I, where it tinds an outlet through a port, h'. The valve-seat I is located at one side of the cylinder E, is parallel to it, and near its front end. tcontains two other-ports, one of which, h2, opens into a duct, H2, also formed in the channel-plate A, and leading directly to the ti'ont end of the cylinder E, to Ywhich it iinds an entrance through au opening, G2, in the cap E', corresponding to the'opening G' in E'. The third port C, in the valve-seat I, is midway between h' and 7i?, and leads into the main outlet-passage O of the meter, which passage lies directly under-.the port, and opens at the side of.' the channel-platel in the substance of which it is formal.

The valve-seat 1 is snrlnonnted by a sliding cupped, valve, K, made like the distribution-Valve of a locomotive. This, by its movements, uncovers the two ports h' and h2 alternately, and alternately covers them with its cup, thereby bringing them into communication with the outlet-port c.

The valve K is attached to the end of the rod L of alpiston, M, which slides 'in a. small closed cylinder, N, which I call the secondary cylinder. This is surmonnted by a at surface upon which slides a cupped valve, O, which by its movements uncovers'alternately the ports 1c' and k2, which open into opposite ends of' the cylinder N, and alternately bring them into com municationwitb an exhaustfport, l, located midway between them. The portlopensintoa du'ct,m, which passes down around the cylinder through the foot n,

by which the cylinder is supported, and into. a duct i orchanneh p, formed in thechannelplate A, and leadl ing directly into the main outlet C.

The valve O is formed with considerable outside lap; that is to say, its length is so much greater than the distance between the outside edges ofthe ports k' and le, that its movement, alter closing one ofthe said ports, must be considerable before -the other port `will be at all uncovered.

To the top of the valve O is whichextcnds rearward and forward Aof the valve. The rear end ofthis bar is jointed `to the free end of the horizontal arm R' ot'alever, the fuit-rum of which is a vertical rock-shaft, S', made in onepiece with the arm li'. The rock-shatt is supported by and enters the rear cap E' of the main measuring-cylinder.` It turns in a brass bushing t', which penetrates the wall of thet'ap near one side. 'The hub of the arm R' tits nicely the top-end surface ofthe bushing t', forming a water-tight joint therewith; thatis tosay, the lower surfaceof Vthe hub projecting around theA rock-shaft,

forms a valvewhich is seated uponthetop of they .bushing The lower end of the rock-shaft -S' lies Within the cap l', and to this lower end is firmly fas`t ened the other horizontal arm .l" of the valve-driving lever. This arm '1" is considerably shorter than the long arm R', and its free end lies within the cap just in the axis ofthe cylinder E. f

The forward end of theV bar P' is jointed to the longer arm R2 of a lever, the rock-shaft S2 of which, and the shorter arm T2, are arranged relatively to the front cap E, in precisely-the same. way as are R', S',

and T' relatively to the rear capE', t2 being the bushing through which S2 passes. Y

The huh of the arm R' has in its Atop a slot, t, vlike lthe nick of a screw, into which engages a tongue,

Under. thiscollar is a leathern washer, y., beneath which is an arm or lever, V, the hub of which suri rounds the` spindle, and is free to turn on it, being only attached thereto by being forced up against the washer y by a spiral spring, z, which lies under the` lever, and bearsagainst t-he top of the bushing 11. Y The end of the lever Vis furnished with a pawl, X, which engages with. the teeth of a ratchet-wheel, fastened to the arbor of the first wheel of a train of wheel-work, which constitutes the register of the meter, and is like theregister of agaS-meter.

The movement of the arm` or level' V is limited by `two pins, x' and x2, whose dstancenpart is such that each movement ofthe lever may be sutlicient to cause the pawl to move the ratchet-wheel a certain number of teeth, but not enough to move it-one tooth more than the given number.

y The collar x, washer y, and spiral spring 2, form a frictional coupling, by which the lever V is connected with the spindle U, and is moved by it, but which en` ables the spindle to tnrn in eithcr direction further than it moves the lever V, which is stopped by the pins x' and x Small cushions, fr' r2, ot India rubber or leather, are inserted centrally in the inside of the caps E"and E2, and serve as noiseless stops, against which the short lever-arms strike, and limit the stroke-of the piston E; Indiarubber rings, n' and ni, are also inserted inthe hub ofthe piston M, and in a collar on the rod L. By`

these the stroke of the secondary piston is limited.

The operation ofthe apparatus above described is as bllows: i l A A Water from the source ot' supply fills the box-like cover D of' the meter, through the inlet B, and if all the parts are in the positions shown in the drawings, lthe water enters the port h2, Hows throughl the passage Irlz andthe opening Gi', into the `front end ofthe .measuring cylinder. i

This jt'orces the piston-F towards thel re.

empties a certain quantity of water ont of the reai.`

end ofthe cylinder E, through the opening G', passage'` ll', port'h', and the cup of the valveK, and ldis-y charges it through the outlet or delivery-passagei0.

`Whenthev piston F has gone so t'ar that its prong'f' comes in contact with the short jleverarni T', the end nl' the said arm is forced back, and {cour- Vsequevntly the longer arm R', the secondary Avalve O',

and the `long lever-arm R, are all pressed forward. ,f'

ThespindleU is turned by the movement ottlie i arm` l1t', Vand this moves the pawl-arm V, which actin ates the register. i i

The forward movement of the valve() uncovcrsthe port k', leading to the rear end of the secondalyioylinder, and the water, iowing in from th/boxl),

presses fonvard' the piston M, forcing out theifwater' which-is in front ot' it, through the port k, the cup ot' the valve O,-the port l, thepassagesm antlfp, and, finally, through the main outlet or delivery-passage O.

By thismovement ot' the piston M, the inain valve K is carried forward,so as to coverthe port h2 with 'its cup. i t n It also uncovers the port h, whinh admits water igiand ings.

from the box D to the rear end of the cylinder E, and

I this threes forward the piston F, and causes the discharge of the water from the frontend of the cylinder E out at the delivery C. Y

When the front prong f2 touches the end of the short lever-arm T, this is pressed forward, and the position of the secondary valve O is thereby reversed, and brought back into the position shown in the draw- K is drawn back, and all the parts are again brought into the position shown in the drawings, causing a repetition ofthe described movements, so long as water is supplied to the metera'nd drawn from the delivery. The size of the secondary cylinder N is-such that it shall give only suiei'ent power to move the valve K with certainty, and it is important to reduce its area as much as is consistent .with this requirement, as itis found that by so doing, greater detlniteness in the length of stroke of the pistonF is obtained under varying speeds. The llap of the valve 0 is so great, that as much angular movement of the lever-arm R is required to overcome the sa-id lap, as is needed to give to the registerpawl arm V the amount of motion necessary to 'effect a record. v

By this provision, no reversal of the movement Vof the main piston F can be made to take place wit-hout a corresponding and sufficient movement of the spindle U, which drivesthe register-pawl arm V.

'.lhe additional movement ofthe lever-arm'R, necessai-y to uncover theport k or k", after the lap of the valve is overcome, is permitted without effect on' the. register, by the 'fi-ictional coupling by which 'the pawl-arm V is moved, and by the stops x and .'cz, which limit its movements. l

The register' is made to indicate the whole quantity of water which passes through both 'cylinders E and N.

The pressure ofthe waterin the box D is, when the meter is acting, greater than in the cylinder'E. 'lhis forces the hubs ofthe lever-arms R* and R2 upon their bushings, and prevents leakage of water into the cylinder around the. rock-shafts'S and Si'.

By this seltlpacking arrangement of the'rock-shaft, by which the movement of the pistou F is transmit ted to the valve O, the use of a stuiing-box for -the shaft is avoided.

This feature of my invention is applicable to some kinds of duplex-cylinder meters.

Having diszribed my invention, I wish it to be understood that Ido not claim the useof two measuring-cylinders in the same case or box, when theser are ing-apparatus; nor dol claim as new the arrangement is not combined with a channelplate, separatefrom a box like cover, asdescrbed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-

v1. The combination, with the principal measuringcylinder E, of a smaller secondary cylinder M and piston N, thelatter connected to and operating the inain valve K of the principal cylinder, when both cylinders are arranged within a case, to which the water to be. measured is admitted, substantially 'as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Also, the combination of the channel-plate A, for supporting the working-parts of the meter, and containing the inlet and outlet-passages B and O, and the channels of hcommunicationHl and H", with the |neasuring-cylinder and with the box-like cover D, when this is arranged substantially as described, to facilitate uncovering the working-parts.

. 3. Also, the caps E and E2, with their openings G main measuring-cylinder.

4.' Also, the combination of the bolts f and f and the` set-screws gand g? with the caps -E1 and Egand' the ltubular part E ot' the main cylinder, as described, for the purpose specified.

5. Also, the combination of the two lever-arms T and T, lying within the measuring-cylinderor`its caps, one ateach endl of the cylinder-,with Vthe twoleverfore set forth.

6.' Also, the combination of the bushings tl with the self-packing hubs, upon the top of the valve-driving rock-shafts S S2, substantially as set forth.

7. Also, the combination of the registering-pawl with the secondary valve 0,'substautially as described, so that the required movement ofthe pawl shall be produced by that portion of the movement of the Avalve necessary to overcome thelap of thevalve, forthe purpose hereinbefbre set forth.

8. Also, thecombination, with the register-pawl arm V and the mechanism by which itis moved, 0f a fric-tional coupling, and ot' positive stops xl and xt', for the purpose hereinbefore explained.

In testimony whereof, I have hereuntoset my hand, this 16th day of February, 1869,' in lpresence MONROE STANNARD.

Witnesses: A n

R. F. BLoDGnxr, H. Cromsom of nearly equal size, and constitute a duplex measur-y of the working-parts within a single case, when this and G2, in combination with the tubular' partEoi' the arms R* and Ri, lying /out'side'of vthe cylinder, and. connected with the valve O, for the purpose hereinbe- 

